Proctitis as the clinical presentation of lymphogranuloma venereum, a re-emerging disease in developed countries.

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually transmitted infectious disease caused by serovars L1, L2 and L3 of Chlamydia trachomatis. The initial presentation is usually a painless ulcerated papule on the genitalia or distal proctitis. The progression of the infection can lead to major complications: rectal strictures, intestinal obstruction or perforation. We present five cases of LGV proctitis as the initial presentation of the disease. All patients were male, mean age 44.6 years, with positive serology to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and promiscuous men who have sex with men (MSM).The initial diagnosis was made by rectosigmoidoscopy indicated for pain and anal discharge. All cases were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction technique in rectal tissue. Endoscopic images obtained showed a great variety of rectal lesions, from mild erythema of the mucosa and ulcers to deep ulcers with elevated borders and purulent exudate. All cases were resolved after treatment with doxycycline for 3 weeks. It emphasizes the importance of suspecting this re-emerging disease in patients with risk factors (HIV and MSM), with the aim of early treatment and to avoid major complications.

Proctitis como forma de presentación del linfogranuloma venéreo, una entidad emergente en los países desarrollados / Proctitis as the clinical presentation of lymphogranuloma venereum, a re-emerging disease in developed countries

El linfogranuloma venéreo (LGV) es una enfermedad infecciosa de transmisión sexual causada por los serotipos L1, L2 y L3 de Chlamydia trachomatis. Se manifiesta inicialmente como una pápula ulcerada e indolora en los genitales o como una proctitis distal. La progresión de la infección puede dar lugar a complicaciones mayores: estenosis rectal, obstrucción o perforación intestinal. Se presentan cinco casos de LGV con proctitis como signo inicial de la enfermedad. Todos los pacientes eran varones, de edad media 44,6 años, con serología positiva al virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y homosexuales promiscuos. El diagnóstico se realizó mediante rectoscopia indicada por dolor y supuración anal. Todos los casos fueron confirmados mediante técnica de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa en tejido rectal. Las imágenes endoscópicas obtenidas muestran la gran diversidad de lesiones rectales posibles, desde leve eritema de la mucosa con aftas hasta úlceras profundas con bordes sobreelevados y abundante fibrina. Tras tratamiento con doxiciclina, durante 3 semanas, todos los casos se resolvieron de forma satisfactoria. Se enfatiza la importancia de sospechar esta patología emergente en pacientes con factores de riesgo (VIH y homosexuales), con el fin de instaurar un tratamiento precoz y evitar las complicaciones mayores (AU)

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually transmitted infectious disease caused by serovars L1, L2 and L3 of Chlamydia trachomatis. The initial presentation is usually a painless ulcerated papule on the genitalia or distal proctitis. The progression of the infection can lead to major complications: rectal strictures, intestinal obstruction or perforation. We present five cases of LGV proctitis as the initial presentation of the disease. All patients were male, mean age 44.6 years, with positive serology to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and promiscuous men who have sex with men (MSM). The initial diagnosis was made by rectosigmoidoscopy indicated for pain and anal discharge. All cases were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction technique in rectal tissue. Endoscopic images obtained showed a great variety of rectal lesions, from mild erythema of the mucosa and ulcers to deep ulcers with elevated borders and purulent exudate. All cases were resolved after treatment with doxycycline for 3 weeks. It emphasizes the importance of suspecting this re-emerging disease in patients with risk factors (HIV and MSM), with the aim of early treatment and to avoid major complications (AU)

[Retrospective epidemiological study on the durability of the treatment of HIV infection or AIDS in Spain]. / Estudio epidemiológico retrospectivo sobre la duración del tratamiento de la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en España.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To know the durability of consecutive regimens of antiretroviral treatment is important to design a long-term therapy, but there is not much information about this subject. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective epidemiological study of a sample of 401 patients who began antiretroviral treatment between January 1997 and April 2000 at ten Spanish hospitals. The duration of each consecutive antiretroviral regimen was calculated and the reasons for modification and discontinuation were described. RESULTS: In the 3 years and 3 months covered by the study, 48.6% of the patients received more than one regimen of therapy. Seventy five of the initial prescribed combinations included protease inhibitors. Median duration of consecutive lines of therapy was decreasing: 560, 360, 330 and 202 days for the first, second, third and fourth regimens, respectively. The main reason to modification was intolerance or toxicity (46.2, 49.1 and 47.1% for the first, second and third modification). A fifth of changes was originated by difficulties to follow the therapy. Virological failure was the reason for modification in 21.8, 24.5 and 26.5% of first, second and third changes. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of consecutive antiretroviral regimens progressively decreases. Intolerance or drug toxicity were the main reasons conditioning the change of treatment.